Dispensing valve unit



Jan. 19, 1960 J. J. BOOTH ET AL DISPENSING VALVE UNIT Filed June l0, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 1-, INVENTORS Jock J. Booth William C. Brunch BY Mfma ATTQRNEY Jan. 19, 1960 J. J. BOOTH ET AL DISPENSING VALVE UNIT Filed June 1o, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Y W/ f t i f INVENTORS Jock J. Booth William C. Branch ATTORNEY DISPENSING VALVE UNIT Jack J. Booth and William C. Branch, Dallas, Tex.; said Branch assignor to said Booth Application June 10, 1958, Serial No. 741,710

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-636) n This invention relates to a dispensing valve unit, and it concerns more particularly an arrangement of valves for use in dispensing beverages.

An object of the invention is to providea dispensing valve unit comprising a plurality of pairs of coacting, normally closed dispensing valves arranged in a common housing therefor, the valves of each pair having a common discharge spout and a common handle capable of acting on one of the valves, or both of them simultaneously, to open one or both of the valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing valve unit which is characterized by its compactness, and in which the dispensing valves are closely spaced relative to each other, and each of the discharge spouts and handles is capable of controlling the flow yof fluids from two different sources, whereby a variety of beverages may be conveniently dispensed from the same valve unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing valve unit which is capable of mixing automatically, in predetermined proportions, the componentsl of mixed drinks, and in whichthe openings through the several dispensing valves are of predetermined size and automatic mixing is accomplished by simple manipulation ofV a single handle which controls the tlow of two cornponents simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing valve unit which is characterized by its versatility, and in which one of a pair of dispensing valves which are operable by a common handle, and having a common discharge spout, may be connected to a source of nite States Patent" f Lice l the invention which is incorporated in the cabinet.

syrup for use in making mixed beverages, while the other valve of the pair .may be connected to a source of carbonated or plain Water, so that in one operating position of the handle, for example, mixed beverages containing syrup and water, either carbonated or plain, mayV be -dispensed through the common discharge spout, and in another operating position of the handle, water alone, either carbonated or plain, may be dispensed through the same discharge spout.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing cabinet having a valve unit embodying the invention incorporated therein;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view ofthe valve unit;

Figure 3 isa side elevational View;

Figure 4 is a rear' elevational view; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5- o Figure 4, showing one of the three pairs of valves, and the handle therefor, in one of their respective operating positions;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the 'valves and the handle therefor in another of their respectiveoperating positions; and

` Referring to Figures 2 to 7 of the drawing, the valve unit 2 includes a rhousing 3, which consists of a substantially solid block having parallel front and rearv faces, numbered 4 and 5, respectively. A plurality of pairs of horizontally extending bores, numbered 6 and 7, respectively, are formed in the housing 3, and extend through its rear face 5. The bores 6 and 7 are arranged in parallel rows, the bores 6 and 7 of each pair being spaced one -above the other and the several pairs of bores 6 and 7 being spaced laterally relative to each other.

A plurality of vertical grooves 8 are formed in the front face 4 of the housing 3. Each of the grooves 8 communicates with the bores 6 and 7 of one pair.

A plurality of downwardly and outwardly inclined bores 9, which are formed in the housing 3, each communicate with Vthe bores 6 and 7 of one pair intermediate their ends, and extend through the under side of the housing 3.

Each of the bores 6-and 7 is enlarged intermediate its ends to form a beveled, rearwardly facing internal shoulder comprising a valve seat 10.y A tubular inlet tting 11. is received in the rearward end of each of the bores 6` land 7, and. extends outwardly from the housing 3. A YdischargeV spout 12 is received in each of the bores 9, and extends forwardly and downwardly from the housing 3.

A valve stem 13 is reciprocable in each of the bores 6 and 7, and normally extends forwardly into the adjacent vertical groove 8. vA resilient valve member 14 is connected to one end'of each of the valve stems 13 for engagement withthe'adjacent valve seat 10. Acompres;

sion spring 15 isre'ceivedina springseat 16 formedvin each of theinlet iittings:11.Y The springllS acts on ythe adjacent valve'member'll to yieldablyurgeit in Aengage-j ment with its seat.10.

A atplate 17 is secured tothe front face 4 of th housing 3 in. juxtaposed, parallel relation thereto. A plurality of rods 18 are" each connected to the plate 17, and rextend rearwardly therefrom. The rods 18 are each spacedv substantially equidistantly between the bores 6 and 7 of one pair, and are arranged in parallel relation thereto. Each'. of the rods 18 extends across the adjacent. vertical groove 8, and has oneof itsends received in a bore 19 providedtherefor in'the housing 3.

Av pluralityof vertically disposed elongated handles 20 eachh'ave i'tsi lowerV end portion received in one of the vertical grooves 8, and extend upwardly therefrom. The handles'Zlleach have a transverse opening 21 therein above itslower fend and `loosely surrounding the ad-V jacent rod 18.

The handles'Z are each bentv forwardly and upwardly at an obtuse angle' above the opening 21, as at 22. The handles 20 are each operable as a lever whereby, upon moving the upper end of the handle 20 forwardly about ai'pivot formed 'by the upper edge ofthe plate'-17,.the lower end portion 4`of theA handle 20 acts upon both of the valver stems'13 of thel adjacentV pair simultaneously, to disengage the' Valve members" 14 from their seats 10. Upon moving the upper end of the handle 20 krearwardly about a pivotformed by the lower end of the handle 20, the lower end portion of 4the handle 20 acts upon the uppermost' valve stem 13 of.` the adjacent pair only,1 to disengagetlre valve'member: 141fro1nf.its seat 10.

The discharge spouts 12 andthehandles 20," asiw'el-Las the` inlet iittingsA 11, are closely spaced relative to each controls the flow of fluids from two different sources.

Thus a variety of beveragesA may be conveniently dispensed from the valve unit 2..

vThe openings formed by the respective valve members 14, in conjunction with the valve seats 10, arel of predetermined size, `so that automatic mixing-'is accomplished by simple manipulation of a single handle 20,' which controls the flow of each of two components thereof simultaneously,

` The invention contemplates that one of the inlet fittings 11 of each pair may be connected to a source of syrup for use in making mixed beverages, while the other inlet fitting 11 may be connected to a source of carbonated or plain water. In one operating position of the handle 20,` for example, mixed beverages containing syrup and water, either carbonated or plain, may be dispensed through the common discharge spout 12. In another operating position of the handle 20, water alone, either carbonated or plain, may be dispensed through the same discharge spout 12.

One of the inlet fittings 11 may be connected to a source of fluid to be dispensed which is common to two adjacent dispensing valves of the unit 2. The corresponding inlet fitting ll of the other valve may be plugged, as at 23, and a fluid passage 24 may be formed in the housing 3 connecting the corresponding bores 6 at their sides, rearwardly of the valve members 14, whereby the same uid may be dispensed from either of the valves, or from both of them simultaneously.

A horizontally extending bore 25, which is formed in the housing 3, extends through its front and rear faces 4 and S. The bore 25 is positioned above and between two pairs of bores 6 and 7, and is arranged in parallel relation thereto. A downwardly and outwardly inclined bore 25, which is formed in the housing 3, communicates with the bore 25 intermediate its ends, and extends through the under side of the housing 3. The bore 26 is of smaller cross-sectional area than the bores9 The bore 2S is enlarged intermediate its ends .to form a beveled, rearwardly facing Ainternal shoulder comprising a valve seat 27. A tubular inlet fitting 28 is received in the rearward end of the bore 25. A discharge spout 29 is received in the lower end of the bore 26, and extends forwardly and downwardly from the housing 3. A valve stem 30 is reciprocable in the bore 25. A resilient valve member 31 is connected to one end of the valve stem 30 for engagement with the valve seat 27. A compression spring 32 is received in a spring seat formed in the inlet fitting 28. The spring 32 acts on the valve member 31 to yieldably urge it in engagement with its seat 27. A button 34 is connected to the front end of the valve stem 30. The valve member 31 is disengaged from its seat 27 upon pressing the button 34.

The dispensing valve last described advantageously may be used to dispense a stream of fluid, such as carbonated water, at high velocity.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A dispensing valve unit comprising a housing con- Y sisting of a substantially solid block having parallel front and rear faces, a plurality of pairs of horizontally extending bores in the housing extending through its rear face, the bores being arranged in parallel rows, the bores of each pair being spaced one above the other and the several pairs of bores being spaced laterally relative to each other, a plurality of vertical grooves in the front face of the housing, each of the grooves communicating with the bores of one pair, a plurality of downwardly and outwardly inclined bores in the housing each communicating with the rst mentioned bores of one pair intermediate their ends and extending through the under side of the housing, each of the first mentioned bores beingenlarged intermediate its ends to form a beveled, rearwardly' facing internal shoulder comprising a valve seat, a tubular inlet fitting received in the rearward end of each of the first mentioned bores and extending outwardly from the housing, a discharge spout received in the lower end of each of the last mentioned bores and extending forwardly and downwardly from the housing, a valve stem reciprocable in each of the first mentioned bores and normally extending forwardly into the adjacent 'vertical groove, a resilient valve member connected to one end of each of the valve stems for engagement with the adjacent valve seat, a compression spring received in a lspring seat formed in each of the inlet fittings, and acting on the adjacent valve member to yieldably urge the valve member in engagement with its seat, a flat plate secured to the front face ofthe housing in juxtaposed, parallel relation thereto, a plurality of rods each connected to the plate and extending rearwardly therefrom, the rods each being spaced substantially equidistantly between the first mentioned bores of one pair, each of the rods extending across the adjacent vertical groove and having one of its ends received in a bore provided therefor in the housing, a plurality of vertically disposed elongated handles each having its lower end portion received in one of the vertical grooves, and extending upwardly therefrom, and having a transverse opening therein spaced above its lower end and loosely surrounding the corresponding rod, the handles each being bent forwardly and upwardly at an obtuse angle at a point spaced above the opening therein, the handles each being operable as a lever whereby, upon moving the upper end of the handle forwardly about a pivot formed by the upper edge of the plate, the lower end portion of the handle acts upon both of the valve stemsr of the adjacent pair simultaneously, to disengage the valve members from their seats, and upon moving the upper end of the handle rearwardly about a pivot formed by the lower end of the handle, the lower end portion of the handle acts upon the uppermost valve stem of the adjacent pair only, to disengage the valve member from its seat.

2. A dispensing valve unit as described in claim vl in which one of the inlet fittings is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid to be dispensed which is common to two adjacent dispensing valves of the unit, the corresponding inlet fitting of the other valve being plugged and a fluid passage being formed in the housing connecting the corresponding first mentioned bores at their sides, rearwardly of the valve members, whereby the same fluid may be dispensed from either of the valves, or from both of them simultaneously.

3. In a dispensing valve unit as described in claim 1, a horizontally extending bore formed in the housing and extending through its front and rear faces, the last mentioned horizontally vextending bore being positioned above and between two pairs of the first mentioned horizontally extendingrbores and arranged in parallel relation thereto, a downwardly and outwardly inclined bore formed in the housing and communicating with the last mentioned horizontally extending bore intermediate its ends and extending through the under side of the housing, the last mentioned inclined bore being of substantially smaller cross-sectional area than the first mentioned inclined bores, the last mentioned horizontally extending bore being enlarged intermediate its ends to form a beveled, rearwardly facing internal shoulder comprising a valve seat, a tubular inlet fitting received in the rearward end of the last mentioned horizontally extending bore, a discharge spout received in the lower end of the last mentioned inclined bore, and extending forwardly and downwardly from the housing, a valve stem reciprocable in Vthe last mentioned horizontally extending bore, a resilient valve member connected to one end of the last mentioned valve stem, a compression spring received in a spring seat formed in the last mentioned inlet fitting and acting on the last mentioned valve member to yieldably urge it in engagement with its seat, and a button con,-

button.

-References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jacobs Oct. 12, 1926 CTI 6 Leibing Aug. 30, 1927 Haberland Feb. 21, 1950 Bottlieb et al May 20, 1952 Segal July 14, 1953 Nicholas Apr. 6, 1954 Hudson et a1 Apr. 13, 1954 Brown May 11, 1954 

